Organization~ in 2nd

Organization is key in very classroom to have your year run smoothly.  I have been working really hard on my organization this year since I am new to 2nd grade.  I created these binders to help tame the copies.  Our district has a HUGE amount of copies for the children to practice math skills in 2nd grade.  So ... I had to tackle that pile of copies that I kept sticking in my "To File" drawer & organize myself for the years to come.  Here is how I did it!

I created a binder for every skill in our curriculum and added clear sleeves inside for all of the copies.  You could even make one HUGE binder and use the covers as dividers.  (I will custom create any that you need if you love my design!)

Here is a picture of the Polka Dot Cover for Math.  It comes in zebra (of course), too:

Here is a picture of the matching spines:

I love them!!!  Each different subject is a different color so I can find them with ease in my cabinet.  Yes ... I guess I am kinda a dork!  I just love organization!

If you love organization as much as I do, I put these in my store in 2 different designs:
Zebra
Black & White Polka Dot

Last tip:  To help keep the ink from the printers from attaching to my clear binder fronts, I always put them in clear sleeves 1st.  Now they do not transfer & I can reuse the binder later in life if I ever need to!

I hope this helps you organize your math files.  Soon to come my science set, it is looking good so far!!!
Happy Organizing,
Karen

Interactive Anchor Charts

We are so thrilled to be linking up with Tori again for
Monday Made It!

Anchor charts are so  important for teaching young children!  We love making them in our classes.  Here are several that you can find in our store.  Creating meaningful anchor charts can be so time consuming.   We use Velcro to make them more interactive while teaching & also make them usable for “switch classes.”  This way you can brainstorm and create the anchor chart with both classes and still make the charts feel brand new to both classes.  We are firm believers of:  “Work smarter & not harder!”

To visit our store go to: Planet Happy Smiles

& click on the tab for "Anchor Charts"

Here are some of the charts available in our store:

 We hope you find these useful for your classroom, too!

Happy Anchor Chart Making!

Karen & Alison

Popcorn Alphabet, Word Wall, Words & Number Stations

Check out our newest addition to our store!  This pack has both math & language stations. 

It is based on the Cypress Fairbanks List of 35 Kindergarten Words.

A fantastic set for parents & teachers!

1st & 2nd Grade To Be In The Store Soon!

If you would like us to add to the pack,

please message us!

Click the picture to go to our store!

Happy Teaching!
Karen & Alison

Monday Made It!!!

I am so thrilled to be linking up with Tori again for
Monday Made It!

Here it goes ... we have been so busy ... just by going to our TPT store you can tell.  Tons more added & we have started school.  WOW!  We also hit over 200 products sold in a month.  We feel that is AWESOME!!!  Especially considering we started slow to add products.

1st:  If you ever do a ROCK STAR theme ... we have several supplies for you & here is just one fun item.

The kids work hangs from the clips & they love seeing their work down low on their eye level where they can read it. Super fun!!!

2nd:  Our Yes/No~ Graphing Kit is AWESOME & so cheap for all of the cards that are included. The BEST thing is ... it comes in different classroom themes.  YAHOO!  You can choose your style.

Included in the set are:
-a topper that says Great Graphing in the theme
-Yes and No header cards in the theme
-blank cards that are editable for you to add your student’s names. Duplicate this slide for as many cards as you need.
-12 pages of assorted questions for grades K – 2nd
-picture cards to use in the questions with blanks

It also matches all of the helper cards in our store! 

3rd: Here are our Pledge Posters.  We know they are only 8 1/2 x 11 but they are great for our classes. They are only $1.00 for both & that was much cheaper than at the teacher supply store.  We are required to have them posted in our rooms ... which we agree they should be there.  I just love that these do not take up much space & match our other products!

 Happy teaching to everyone &

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Have a great school year,

Karen & Alison

After you enter on this blog, head on over to All Smiles in Second Grade and enter again for more chances to win!

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Guided Reading Strategey Card Set

Our Newest Product:  Guided Reading Strategy Cards

This Guided Reading Strategy Cards set includes 29 different strategy cards and an editable checklist as the student’s master each strategy. Each slide has 12 bookmark size cards on it of the same strategy. The cards are color coded to match the 4 different CAFÉ skill headings: Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expand Vocabulary. 
This product is designed to be used in a Guided Reading group. After working on a specific skill with the kids in your small group, take the bookmark strategy card that you worked on and slide it into each child’s Guided Reading book. When the kids take their book home, this lets the parents know what you were working on with them and what they can continue with at home. It is a great tool for the school/home connection!

The picture ( with the word: example)  shows you all the strategies that are included in the set. There is an editable checklist included, too. The rest of the slides have a different strategy on each slide for easy printing on a specific strategy.

These are the same strategy cards that we have in our CAFÉ products. Below is a link to 1 of the CAFÉ products that we offer.

CAFE Strategy Cards:  click here
We use the CAFÉ when introducing the strategies in our whole group lessons. These bookmarks are to be used for small group instruction as another way to reinforce the strategies. 

We hope you find this helpful!
Enjoy!

Rock Star ~ In the classroom

Rock Star ~ In the classroom

Come check out one of our latest products in our store.

We really focus at the beginning of the year on building relationships between us and the kids & parents.  This product does just that!  It is also editable. Yahoo!!!

Items Included:

* Notes for all grade levels (k-5th) to attach to your records for the parents

* Banner to hang above the records on your Bulletin Board

* Centers to print for the middle of the records

* "Getting to Know you Handout" for the family to complete

* Blank note cards

Click here to get to this great product!

Happy Shopping & We hope your year ROCKS!!!

Karen & Alison